They’ve been trying to treat fetuses in the womb with stem cells for awhile now (adult stem cells, NOT embryonic! embryonic can cause tumors!) In the past, they tried to use the baby’s own stem cells…with mixed results.

“But despite the fact that the immature immune system of an unborn baby can tolerate donor transplants, with little risk of graft rejection, most previous attempts to transplant blood stem cells into a human fetus have been unsuccessful…”

BUT

“When transplants were matched to the mother rather than the fetus, the transplants were accepted!…Transplanting stem cells harvested from the mother makes sense because the mother and her developing fetus are prewired to tolerate each other.”

IMAGINE!

‘in-the-womb treatments for “everything from neurological disorders to muscular disorders before birth.”’

Two recent stories are exciting about the possibility of treating young children, even in the womb, with adult stem cells. One study shows that cardiac adult stem cells can be isolated from young children with heart problems, even as young as one day old…

What if you found out there was a method by which to increase the potential of the following benefits to your baby during delivery:

improving hemacrit levels

improving respiratory functions

reducing incidence of sepsis

encouraging organ growth in preterm infants

lowering the rate of transfusions for anemia

reducing incidence of hemorrhage

having stable glucose levels.

What if you found out the method was both free and easy.

There is. Stem cells in umbilical cord, when given more opportunity to travel from the mother, into the baby, do all of the above.

Makes sense right? It’s also true.

“In each trial, delayed cord clamping (DCC) was shown to have statistically significant benefits to babies.”

Every now and then, an article comes out and I am struck by the obviousness of the results and wonder why nobody ever thought of it before (including me). -dg

New study on stem cells in cord suggest delayed cord clamping after birth

May 25, 10:35 AM Seattle Women’s Issues Examiner Emily Flynn

Here’s the typical scene: Mom delivers baby. Baby has some suction to help clear the mucous from it’s nose and mouth. A pink, screaming baby! Cord is clamped and doctor asks Daddy, “Do you want to cut the cord now?”

That all happens in a matter of seconds, but there’s a good bit of new evidence that suggests that at least the last part, cord clamping and cutting, should be delayed not just by a matter of seconds, but by several minutes.

The University of South Florida study in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine is the most recent in a series of trials testing the benefits and risks of delayed cord clamping. Studies where conducted to test the effectiveness of delayed clamping for increasing hemacrit levels, improving respiratory functions, reducing incidence of sepsis, encouraging organ growth in preterm infants, lowering the rate of transfusions for anemia, reducing incidence of hemorrhage, and having stable glucose levels. In each trial, delayed cord clamping (DCC) was shown to have statistically significant benefits to babies–both preterm and term, born vaginally or via cesarean.

The JCMM article looked specifically at the effect of stem cell transfer from placenta to baby as the cord continues to pulse minutes after birth. As the abstract states:

[S]ince it was known that umbilical cord blood contains various valuable stem cells…the merit of delayed cord clamping has been magnified.

Commenting on this study on LiveScience, Paul Sanberg, the lead researcher, noted that this is an evolutionarily significant process, to let the cord continue pulsing–one that is practiced in all mammals, save for humans in Westernized societies. By giving the placenta time to transfer it’s full nutritional, oxygenated, and stem cell enriched blood to the baby immediately postpartum, we are giving our children the best shot at full development. Sanberg goes so far as to comment on the squatting position for delivery–one that is commonly adopted by women spontaneously in the second stage of labor (pushing)–as being the most beneficial for stem cell transfer, thanks to the aid of gravity.

Further comment on the advantages of delayed cord clamping can be easily found through a number of scientific journals.

Recently, the Journal of Perinatology published the results of a trial at the Women and Infants’ Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, assessing the benefits and risks of delayed cord clamping, particularly for infants with very low birth weights (VLBW). The trial sought to clarify a decade worth of studies on this subject to hopefully ween out some of the methodological errors in the previous trials. The researchers noted:

At term, approximately two-thirds of the fetal – placental blood volume (FPBV) is in the fetus. In a preterm pregnancy, approximately one half of the FPBV is in the placenta leaving the preterm fetus more vulnerable when the cord is clamped immediately because the infant receives very little placental transfusion. During transition from fetal to neonatal life, there is an increase in the circulatory bed as various organs—lung, liver, kidney, etc.—begin to assume the functions sustained by the placenta during fetal life. This increase in circulatory bed or capacity may need additional blood volume that is deprived by immediate cord clamping. The resulting relative hypovolemia leads to decreased blood pressure, poorer perfusion, fewer available nutrients, and may create a subtle hypoxia or hypoxemia that may adversely affect the organs at the cellular level.

The study also found that infants who had delayed cord clamping showed lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)–a breakdown of intestinal tissue–and better feeding capabilities than those who had immediate cord clamping (ICC).

Improved lung capability and a reduced incidence in supplemental oxygen has been noted in several studies, including the above mentioned two, as being relative to delayed cord clamping. It is thought by some researchers to be a result of the increased blood volume shown in infants who had DCC versus ICC. Often, early clamping is done to bring the baby to a warming bed to be oxygenated, but many studies have shown that keeping the cord pulsing does a great deal to encourage successful oxygenation and improve resuscitation outcomes. The added benefit of keeping the infant in the mother’s arms can go a long way

For decades, babies were whisked away to warming beds immediately after birth, deeming the immediate cutting of the cord necessary. More recent studies show that having the infant placed on the mother’s abdomen immediately after birth and staying with the mother for an extended period of time has tremendous benefits for both mother and baby. This allows for delayed cord clamping, and even the practice of lotus birth–keeping the umbilical cord and placenta attached till it naturally separates from the child–possible for families who choose to practice this tradition. In any regard, waiting for the cord to stop pulsing does not barre the care providers from performing any standard newborn procedures–many of which can be delayed for the few minutes it takes to wait for the pulsing to stop, and/or can be done while the infant remains in the mother’s arms.

Regardless of your chosen place of birth–homebirth, birthing center, or hospital–talk with your care provider about the possibility of having delayed cord clamping. Most care providers won’t have a problem with allowing the few precious minutes it takes for this to happen. If you are writing a birth plan, it is a good idea to put your intentions for delayed clamping in this, as well, and to inform your nursing staff if you are birthing in the hospital.

ScienceDaily (Nov. 23, 2009) — For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that stem cells found in amniotic fluid meet an important test of potential to become specialized cell types, which suggests they may be useful for treating a wider array of diseases and conditions than scientists originally thought.

Stem cells in breast milk are adult or repair stem cells. Is it any wonder repair stem cells are so good for you? – dg

Stem cells in breast milk could fulfil baby’s ‘genetic destiny’

by ANI on November 22, 2009

London, Nov 22 (ANI): A new research has found three different types of stem cells in breast milk which may be the reason why mother’s milk is deemed best for babies.

Dr Mark Cregan, medical director at the Swiss healthcare and baby equipment company Medela, has discovered adult stem cells of epithelial (mammary) and immune origin and found “very preliminary evidence” that stem cells in breast milk boost the growth of muscle and bone tissue.

According to him, mother’s milk could enable a child to “fulfil its genetic destiny”.

“Breast milk is the only adult tissue where more than one type of stem cell has been discovered. That is very unique and implies a lot about the impressive bioactivity of breast milk and the consequential benefits to the breastfed infant,” the Independent quoted Dr Cregan, as saying.

LONDON: Top British footballers are storing stem cells from their newborn babies as a potential future treatment for their own injuries on the pitch.

Five professional footballers are known to have frozen cells taken from the umbilical cord blood of their babies, which could be used to treat cartilage and ligament problems, The Sunday Times reported.